🇪🇸 César Azpilicueta

[Superblue 6,372]

5 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Absolute overreaction. He was hardly at fault for the martial goal as Christensen vacated his position which itself was  not his fault because the defence got stretched by that wayward Rashford pass. blameless for the other goals..his crossing is poor but other than that he worked alright. I hope Reece benches him but he will remain an asset

There's definitely a role still to play for Azpi and maybe I just have a loyal nature myself but I do believe a bit of leeway can and should be afforded for players who have built up a significant amount of credit through the years with great performances, attitude, etc. 

I agree that I'm itching to see Reece James back to full fitness and what he can offer us. But even if James can step up and become first choice, Azpi will still be an important and versatile member of the squad.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We have been conceding left and right last season, this preseason and will probably through this season too.

Its not just Azpi fault. Nor AC nor Zouma nor Luiz nor Alonso. Defending is collective and the have all been at fault more than once. That goes to our midfield too because Jorginho and Kovacic are rather shit because they get caught up almost every game.

As long we have that kind of players in the team, we will continue to concede. It wont help if we just drop this or that player.

The only worthy defenders here are Rudiger and Emerson with AC having somewhat of potential.

Zouma was brilliant for Everton, but I dont know what the hell happend with him because he fucks it up every time. He was always questionable in possesion but if someone compared him last season with our defenders, he was probably the best at defending.

[NikkiCFC 8,321]

His legs are gone. Second goal is all on him. If Lampard persist with him it's going to be new Ivanovic situation for sure. James is back next month. Play Zappa against Leicester? 

[Jase 43,479]

4 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

His legs are gone. Second goal is all on him. If Lampard persist with him it's going to be new Ivanovic situation for sure. James is back next month. Play Zappa against Leicester? 

Liverpool's first goal is definitely on him. The second is down to the team. Azpi lost the ball - wasn't ideal but it can happen - and then the team failed to cover the gaps effectively (e.g. Zouma was playing the runner on), although it still needed Mane to produce a proper finish. 

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Just now, NikkiCFC said:

His legs are gone. Second goal is all on him. If Lampard persist with him it's going to be new Ivanovic situation for sure. James is back in the month. Play Zappa against Leicester? 

Again, a bit OTT regarding him I would say. He wasnt too bad but he didnt step up. He still has plenty to give though.

Reece James haa got a lot of praise last season and rightfully so but we seen with Tammy, with Mason and with other youngsters in the past that people expect so much from them. Reece isnt going to come in and be Cafu or Maicon instantly , there will be teething issues like with all young players and inconsistent periods with his performances as games are played at a very high level in the PL/European matches.

Theres already too much expectation on Reece James on this forum in my eyes. Yes hes a very good prospect, I dont doubt it, hes ready to be a back up or member of the squad, very much so, but an undisputed starter each week, I dont think so. Needs to be bled in and see how he does. Like Mount and Tammy,  they wont start every week, theyll be started some weeks then maybe be subs in other games. You have to gradually keep using them and getting them comfortable to play at this higher level. For me once they've got some game time and understand the level, the expectations, the physical and mental demands and are able to effect games and deliver big performances, yeah start them 4 or 5 games in a row or whatever the numbers. These guys still have to learn at the same time. Ruben for example, Sarri didnt use him a lot start of the season but he came in,  performed, understood the level, the system, the demands of playing at Chelsea as opposed to Palace and ended up stsrting. CHO the same, I think he will be the youngster with the most minutes for us this season.

Plus a lot of tonight Azpi reigned it in a bit and Emerson bombed on more, it was obviously a tactical tweak after the United game. Very much reminds me of how Sir Alex and Jose used to use their full backs in big games. One more reserved and one allowed to push further up. We didnt actually suffer too much on the right offensively due to Kante, playing in that same position Sarri used him in, and Pedro combining very well and when we did lack options Azpi did come up higher at times. 

[Last Sicarius 610]

What happend to him, math by match he is going lower and lower. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

Again we saw another team give him all the time in the world on that right attacking side given how poor of a 'footballer' he is. 

I really hope James is the answer, because I am honestly fed up with watching how fucking appalling our right attacking side has been over the course of a decade. 

[the wes 7,212]

Graeme Souness feels Cesar Azpilicueta responsible for horror Chelsea start

https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/graeme-souness-feels-cesar-azpilicueta-responsible-horror-chelsea-start-1502790010.html

[MONEYBALL 20]

He must be a very strong character cos' with his poors and repeated performances, i can't understand why Sarri and Lamp still keep him their confidence. More than his defensive weakness, his inability to make a good cross is a big problem for our team.

[Jase 43,479]

Not gonna lie, his decline has been painful to watch. Has been at fault for at least 3 of the goals we've conceded this season. Gone from our best, most consistent defender to a liability at the back. 

[LAM09 7,054]

Not gonna lie, his decline has been painful to watch. Has been at fault for at least 3 of the goals we've conceded this season. Gone from our best, most consistent defender to a liability at the back. [emoji20]

His legs have gone and that's the most important thing for a FB. I can only see him having a future at CB here.

[communicate 2,703]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

Not gonna lie, his decline has been painful to watch. Has been at fault for at least 3 of the goals we've conceded this season. Gone from our best, most consistent defender to a liability at the back. 

Won't blame him for the corner. Aerial battle has never been his strength. 

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, communicate said:

Won't blame him for the corner. Aerial battle has never been his strength. 

But the least he could have done is put a challenge in, put pressure on Ndidi on that corner. Instead he got a free header and it led to a goal. 

[Jase 43,479]

3 hours ago, LAM09 said:

4 hours ago, Jason said:

Not gonna lie, his decline has been painful to watch. Has been at fault for at least 3 of the goals we've conceded this season. Gone from our best, most consistent defender to a liability at the back. 

His legs have gone and that's the most important thing for a FB. I can only see him having a future at CB here.

He has never relied on his pace. Bigger problem is his tactical awareness and positioning. These days, he's charging up the field and leaving gaps behind as well as playing people onside!

[Vesper 30,178]

4 hours ago, Jason said:

Not gonna lie, his decline has been painful to watch. Has been at fault for at least 3 of the goals we've conceded this season. Gone from our best, most consistent defender to a liability at the back. 

Reece cannot get healthy soon enough.

[Vesper 30,178]

7 hours ago, the wes said:

Graeme Souness feels Cesar Azpilicueta responsible for horror Chelsea start

https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/graeme-souness-feels-cesar-azpilicueta-responsible-horror-chelsea-start-1502790010.html

Graeme noted how the Spanish player was to be blamed for the Wilfred Ndidi goal which snatched a win from Chelsea and gave them only a solitary point. He also highlighted how he was also to be blamed for two of the four goals that they conceded against United.

“Azpilicueta has been a brilliant defender for Chelsea but he doesn’t know Ndidi is there for the goal, he’s just watching the ball,” he said on Sky Sports post the match.

“He looks over his right shoulder and he stops that. He gave two goals away last week and gave this goal away today as well,” he said.

Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole agreed and added how Azpilicueta could have possibly prevented Ndidi from netting that goal.

“Azpilicueta’s body shape is wrong, if he’d opened his body up a bit more he would’ve stopped him,” Cole said.

[Vesper 30,178]

2 hours ago, communicate said:

Won't blame him for the corner. Aerial battle has never been his strength. 

Ndidi (same height as I am) is less than 2 inches taller than Azpi, Azpi's body shape was all wrong, he ended up giving Ndidi a free header via ball watching then poor reaction.

Don't take my word for it, take the word of the best fullback we ever had, Ashley Cole

Quote

 

While former Blues left-back Ashley Cole blamed Azpilicueta’s body shape for allowing Ndidi to score. 

“Azpilicueta’s body shape is wrong,” Cole added. “If he’d opened his body up a bit more he would’ve stopped him.”

 

 

[Jase 43,479]

28 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Reece cannot get healthy soon enough.

For everyone's sake, better hope James come good!

It'll be funny to watch people's reaction though if James struggles.

[Superblue 6,372]

It's not just Azpilicueta, all of them seem to be like that. They should all be set to defend on the half turn to keep runners in their eye line and block them off or challenge them. 

I can understand Lampard wanting to defend zonal marking because we were so effective in his time at ripping apart teams that man marked by blocking off markers and leaving free headers.

Zonal marking can be extremely effective if done properly but it needs a lot of drilling and the players need to be prepared to take responsibility, not be caught ball watching and attack their spaces.

[LAM09 7,054]

He has never relied on his pace. Bigger problem is his tactical awareness and positioning. These days, he's charging up the field and leaving gaps behind as well as playing people onside!

During his best years, he wasn't asked to fly forward so different parts of his game weren't exposed (crossing being the biggest one).

 

It's been a different story since Conte left and we're seeing the obvious flaws he's had from day one. People can't expect him to be "tactically aware" on the overlap.